that, but then I recalled that the Persians and Romans do so without harming their children.” He—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—was thus informed that they did this without harming the children, and he did not forbid it. Accordingly, the husband may not be denied his right, provided that exercising it does not infringe the prior entitlement established by the nursing contract.

He—may Allah Most High have mercy on him—was asked:

If a father cannot afford nursing fees, and the mother refuses to breastfeed unless she is paid, may he have another woman breastfeed the child?

He replied:

Yes, because he is not obliged to do what he cannot afford.

Shaykh al-Islām—may Allah have mercy on him—was asked:

A man is plagued by three: his wife, a cat, and ants. His wife breastfeeds a child who is not her own, thereby disrupting his life and marital relations; the cat eats the chicks; and the ants crawl into the food. Is it permissible for them to burn their dwellings with fire, or not? May they kill the cat? May he prevent his wife from breastfeeding?

He replied:

A wife may not breastfeed a child other than her own without her husband’s permission.

If the cat attacks his property, he may repel its attack, even by killing it. He may also remove it to a distant place. If its harm cannot be prevented except by killing it, it may be killed.

As for the ants, their harm should be prevented by means other than burning. And Allah knows best.